Clasp



A. LEWIS.

(No Model.

CLASP.

Patented Mar. 27, 1888.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS;

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v UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNIE LEWIS, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

CLASP."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380.125, dated March 27, 1888.

Application filed August 17, 1887. Serial No. 247,178. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNIE LEWIS,,Of Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Clasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of, my invention is to provide a new and improved clasp which is simple and durable in construction and very effectively retains the clasped parts.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter, and thenpointed out in the claim. V

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same in a closed position on the line a: w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same in an open position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged front View of the front jaw. Fig. 5 is an inner face view of the rear-jaw, and Fig. 6 is a rear view of the locking-plate.

My improved clasp A is provided with a front plate, B, and a rear plate, 0, said plates being hinged together on a spindle, D, on which is coiled a spring, E, for pressing the parts B and G from each other. On the upper end of the plate B is secured a strap, F,

for suspending the clasp.

The parts B and O are provided with semicircular jaws G and H, respectively, of which the jaw O is provided with teeth G, arranged in a semicircle near the edge of the circular opening G in the jaw G. Thejaw His provided witha set of semicircular teeth near its outer edge and is also provided with a circular opening, 11*.

From the rear plate, 0, projectlugs I, which pass through slots J in the front plate, B, and the outer ends of said lugs I carry a spindle, K, on which is fulcrumed a locking-plate, L, provided with the rearward projection N, which atits inner -edge is in line with the lower end of the locking-plate L, so that when said locking-plate L is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the inner edge of the projection N and the lower end of the plate L rest on the front face of the front plate, B.

the projection N is removed from the plate B. I

' The part to be clasped can now be placed between the jaws G and H so that their teeth G and H engage the material, and when the operator now moves the locking-plate'L downward into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the said jaws G and Bare drawn toward each other bythe projection N pressing against the front face of theplate-B, thus drawing the other rear plate, 0, toward the front plate, B. As soon as the locking-plate L rests with its lower edge andvwith the inner end of its lug N on the face of the front plate, B, then the jaws G and H are securely locked in position,

as the said locking-plate L cannot swing backward until the operator lifts the lower part of the locking-plate L and swings it upward into the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the teeth G and H thus embed themselves in the material to be clasped,and as said rows of teeth are arranged one behind the other a double grip is obtained on the material.

Having thus fully described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As an improved article of manufacture, a clasp consisting of the front plate, B, formed with the integral strap loop or slot at its upper end, the side ears,BB,near its upper end, the teeth G at its lower end, and the opening G above said teeth, the rear plate, 0, formed with integral teeth G at its lower end, side ears, 0 G,at its upper end,and the lugs I I below said ears and projecting beyond the outer face of the plate B, the spindle D, passing through the ears B G and provided with a spring throwing the plates apart, and the locking-plate L, pivoted at its upper end to the lugsI andhaving a lug,- N, projecting inward from said upper end and bearing on the outer face of the front plate, B, the lower edge ofv the locking- .plate extending across the opening Gland serving as a finger-piece, substantially as set forth.

- ANNIE LEWIS. Witnesses: I

J. P. KINDRED,

L. E. TREZEVANT.. 

